The Portland daily press., 1887-09-05
THE FISHERIES DISCUSSION.
Secretary Bayard Defines His Views
Respecting the Negotiations.
The Commercial Phase Declared
Likely to be Let Alone.
Sir John Reported to Think himself
Out In the Cold.

New YORK, Sept. IA Herald despatch
from Montreal to-day says that as a result Of
the appointment of the fisheries commission
by the British government to settle the dis
pute between Canada and the United States
without consulting the Dominion authorities,
1t is stated in the highest, official circles that
it is Sir John Macdonald's intention to re-
pudiated and ignore any decision that may
be arrived at, owing to the fact that neither
he nor his cabinet has been consulted. In
dicatiOns that there is trouble brewing are ap-
parent to the most casual observer. 1t Is
likely to culminate In some sort OF rupture
between Great Britain and her largest colony.
Secretary Bayard's Ideas.
WASHINGTON, Sept 3.-When the State
Department receives official information Of
the appointment of the members of the fish
cry commission the President will decide
what course shall be pursued to further the
end they will seek in coming to Washington.
There will not in any event be commissioners
ON the part of the United States. The Presi-
dent may empower the Secretary Of State
and for that matter, half dozen gentlemen
TO act with the secretary as advisers-to
meet the English aud Canadian commits
sioners, If it is proposed to make treaty
Otherwise their visit to Washington will not
be fruitful of results.
Secretary Bayard has particular and en-
phatic objection toward commission or
commissioner negotiations he prefers to
call them. To correspondent last night he
saidi
"The only advice have yet received from
the English government of their action in
the matter is the short cablegram announcing
the appointment Of Mr.. Chamberlain. Why
they call him commissioner L cannot un-
derstand. / certainly am extremely anxious
mo nm hnh of
countrymen. and it is something to be thank
full for that the three governments concerned
are now in harmonious way looking to one
end. This thing must come to a crisis. 1t
must be settled either by the arbitrament of
arms or by reason and mutual concessions.
During the past two years we have had
blows to receive as well as blows to give,
and unless a friendly agreement can be
made to put an end to this friction. it Is easy
to see where it must end"
"The troubles in regard to the Alaskan
fisheries are quite new. Not until last year
was there ever British or Canadian vessel
seized by United States officers for violating
the laws of the Alaska fisheries. The
Scotia are 100 years old. The one does not
depend upon the other at all. 1t is true that
the one coast is owned by the United States
and the other by Canada, but our control in
Alaska is much more complete THAN the con-
troll of the Canadians on the shores Of Nova
Scotia, for in addition to international
rights on the coast of, Nova Scotia, we have
treaty rights under the treaty Of 1918, which
has never been abrogated.
Somebody suggested that Mr.. Chamber
lain was a shrewd bargainer, and practiced
in offsetting one thing by another Mr..
Bayard assured his interrogation that Mr..
Chamberlain would have every opportunity
for the exercise of all his powers of adjust
ment and negotiation.
In another branch of the conversation he
attributed to the presence Of Sir John A.
Macdonald in the high commission of 1871
the fact that the Canadians got that $780,
900 Halifax award from the United States.
He referred to Sir John as a very able repre-
sentative of the Canadian fisheries interest,
and it was apparent, although he would not
say so, that he expected Sir John would have
hand in the forthcoming negotiations.